Key Points:
- Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai in Beirut’s Dahieh suburb
- At least five civilians killed, 28 wounded in residential building attack
- First Israeli strike on Beirut since June 2025, violating November 2024 ceasefire
- Tabatabai was veteran commander from 1980s, led Radwan Force, had $5 million US bounty
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned attack, appealed for international intervention
- UN reports nearly 10,000 Israeli ceasefire violations in less than one year
Beirut: Israeli warplanes carried out a precision airstrike on a residential building in Beirut’s densely populated Dahieh suburb on Sunday, eliminating Hezbollah’s chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai. The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed at least five people killed and 28 wounded in the attack that targeted a fourth-floor apartment. The Israeli military immediately claimed responsibility, posting on X that they had killed “Hezbollah’s Chief of General Staff” in a targeted operation.
Who Was Haytham Ali Tabatabai
Haytham Ali Tabatabai, also known as Sayyed Abu Ali, was a veteran Hezbollah operative who joined the Iran-backed militant group in the 1980s. He commanded the elite Radwan Force and led Hezbollah’s operations in Syria, becoming the organization’s de facto military chief second only to Secretary-General Naim Qassem. The United States had placed a $5 million bounty on his head, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described him as a “mass murderer whose hands are soaked in the blood of many Israelis and Americans”. Tabatabai was born in 1968 and had survived two previous Israeli assassination attempts during last year’s war.
Ceasefire Violation Escalates Regional Tensions
The strike represents a dramatic escalation nearly one year after the US and France-brokered ceasefire took effect on November 27, 2024. This marks Israel’s first airstrike on Beirut since June and comes despite the ceasefire agreement that ended last year’s devastating conflict. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has documented nearly 10,000 Israeli violations in less than a year, including over 7,500 air violations and 2,500 ground violations. Israeli forces have conducted more than 500 airstrikes in Lebanon during the ceasefire period, killing at least 108 civilians, including 16 children.
Hezbollah and Lebanese Government Response
Hezbollah confirmed Tabatabai’s death by posting a tribute photo on its Telegram accounts, signaling the loss of one of its most senior commanders. The group labeled the attack a breach of a “red line” but did not immediately threaten retaliation. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement and appealing to the international community to “intervene decisively and earnestly to halt the assaults on Lebanon and its populace”. The attack targeted a residential building in Dahieh, Hezbollah’s stronghold, where the group maintains significant influence.
Israeli Military Justification and Future Threats
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel “will continue to act decisively against threats from Lebanon” and warned that “anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off”. The Israeli military claimed Tabatabai was actively managing Hezbollah’s rearmament efforts, rebuilding military capabilities, and overseeing the production of explosive drones as alternatives to rockets and missiles. Netanyahu stated that Tabatabai had been appointed chief of staff after the war ended and was responsible for enhancing Hezbollah’s operational capabilities, making him a legitimate target despite the ceasefire.
